Belfast/London - The two giants of Northern Ireland politics
are doing battle in elections this week that could bring together
life-long political foes in a power-sharing government between
Protestants and Catholics.
Ian Paisley, the 80-year-old firebrand Protestant preacher who
spent decades declaring he would 'never, ever surrender', may find he
will finally have to shake hands with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams,
the 58-year-old veteran Republican politician whose peace efforts
have invited comparisons with Nelson Mandela.
Under a timetable imposed by the governments in London and Dublin,
this Wednesday's elections to a Regional Assembly (parliament) at
Stormont Buildings in Belfast are to culminate in the formation of a
power-sharing government (Executive) by March 26.
If this latest attempt at devolution for Northern Ireland should
fail, the British and Irish governments have threatened to dissolve
the Assembly indefinitely, and to cut the salaries and allowances of
its 108 members.
For British Prime Minister Tony Blair, establishing a power-
sharing government in Northern Ireland is an important item on his
'to do list' before he steps down later this year.
Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern has been equally
frustrated by the ups and downs in the long drawn-out peace process,
which began with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
If Paisley and Adams, the two men representing the political - and
religious - extremes in Northern Ireland, fail to do business in the
two weeks after the poll, London and Dublin will impose a 'joint
stewardship' on the British province, meaning that it will
effectively be ruled from London.
This has already been the case since October, 2002, when Northern
Ireland's limited self-government collapsed and was suspended over
allegations that a Republican 'spy ring' was operating in the
Assembly.
For a short and exhilarating three months, from December 1999 to
February 2000, Northern Ireland had its first devolved government
under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner David Trimble,
leader of the more centrist Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
But constant UUP infighting and tension with Sinn Fein over IRA
disarmament, eventually forced Trimble's departure from politics and
left a vacuum for extremist parties to gain support.
A major turning point was reached in July, 2005, when Adams
announced that the IRA would dissolve - and that 'the war is over.'
Northern Ireland's 1.7 million people, meanwhile, largely ignored
the squabbling of the politicians and applied the dividends of the
peace accord to their own benefit.
After being repeatedly asked to vote in elections and referendums
over the years, the people of Northern Ireland have adopted a
somewhat detached approach to Wednesday's vote.
A recent opinion poll showed that half of the respondents believe
that it is likely that a working Assembly and Executive will be
established after the election.
Paisley, who has so often said 'No' to political accommodation
with the Catholic community, is now clearly thinking of his own
legacy.
He declared recently that he 'feels ready to take over' a
government in which Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein's chief negotiator
and one-time IRA commander, is likely to be his deputy.
However, Paisley also gave an indication of how little his
hardline thinking has changed.
The elections would make sure that Northern Ireland would still be
'part of Britain for our children's children's children,' he
predicted.
Meanwhile Adams, whose skilful leadership has encouraged the
ground-breaking changes that helped make peace - and the elections -
possible, made clear that he has not lost sight of the ultimate goal
of Irish unity.
Hailing Sinn Fein's endorsement at a recent special party
conference of the police and the judiciary in Northern Ireland, he
said: 'The party has demonstrated its vision, determination and
ability to build a new Ireland.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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